The observation of tidal patterns, currents, and bathymetry with SLAR imagery of the sea

Work done until 1978 on the visualization of currents, bathymetry, internal waves, etc., in SLAR imagery of the sea is reported. It did not receive much attention until the SEASAT SAR imagery showed these effects on a global scale. Although we know, qualitatively, how these images come about we are yet far from knowing how to extract more quantitative data from them on depth, current speed, etc. Much research effort is still needed here and for this work a simple real-aperture SLAR can be a very useful tool.